Faith is defined for us in Hebrews 11:1, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen". It is the substance of Hope. This shows you that you can't talk of faith without hope. Faith helps you arrive at the desire or hoped future. One common thing found in Hope and faith is the "unseen". Faith is evidence of the unseen as given in Hebrews 11:1. Romans 8:24-25 tells us, "For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it". While they both relate with the unseen, faith brings the unseen into experience. In other words with faith you arrive at the desired end.

Hope is about the future while Faith is now. With faith you no longer say, "It will be better". Instead you say "it is better". Faith produces results of the realization of your hope. With faith achievements are birthed. With hope alone you can stay in the same position but faith gets the rain of realization pour forth. In Matthew 9:20-24, there is an account of the Lord Jesus healing the woman with the issue of blood for twelve years. The woman said to herself, "If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole". This shows you the hope that she had. She could have remained hoping but she brought in faith by acting. She took a definite step of faith, she left her home, shrewdly pushed through the crowd and touched the helm of Jesus' garment and she was gloriously healed. Jesus said to her, "Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole". With faith you receive what you desire. Your words and actions are expressions of your faith.

Don't sit down hoping things would change. Get on the faith trail and get hope realized like that woman with the issue of blood. All things are possible to those who believe (Mark 9:23). The next article will focus on love.